Retaining device



Oct 25, 1932 H. T. CASEY ET AL 1,884,564

RETAINING DEVICE Filed Jan. 3. 19727 In/venters Patented Oct. 25, 1.932

PATENT oFFicEg HOWARD T. CASEY .AND CHAR-LES P..NOSER, 0F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE SYMINGTON COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION F MARY- LAND RETAINING DEVICE Application fiiea January a, 1927. seriall No. 158,658.

This invention relates to retaining devices and, more particularly, to such adapted for application to the ends of draft keys to pre- .veiit undesired removal 0r loss thereof.

The principal object of our invention, generally considered, is the provision of an improved key retainer adapted for application to one or both ends of draft keys for preventing undesired removalv or loss thereof.

An object of our invention is the provision of a draft key retainer comprising a looped member adapted to fit over or encircle an end of an associated draft key, the upper or lower portion or both portions of said retainer being provided with lugs adapted to engage in a corresponding aperture or pocket in an associated key, said retainer being either forced over the end of the key until it snaps or springs into place or applied to the end 90 thereof and then contracted to cause the lugs to engage inthe aperture or pocket in said key to hold the retainer in position.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a draft key retainer comprising an i integral loop adapted to be forced over the end of an associated key and held in place by its own resiliency, said loop being provided with one or more lugs extending toward each other and adapted to engage in a corresponding aperture or pocket near the end of said key. i

A further object of our invention is the provisionof a retaining device adapted for 'J gral looped member preferably tapered toward its ends and formed with one or more registering lugs adapted to engage in a corresponding pocket or aperture near the end being preferably bevelled to conform to the usual taper on the end of a draft key to facilitate application of said device.

' Other objects and advantages of the` in- I use with draft keys and comprising an intei of the key, the inner end of said lug or lugs vention relating to the particular conforma-y tion and construction thereof will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to theV drawing illustrating our invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims:

Figure 1 is a sideelevation of draft rigging and a portion of a car underframe to which the same is applied, particularly showing draft rigging keys with retaining devices thereon embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is an'elevational view of a retaining device embodying our invention detached from the associated key.

Figure Sis a longitudinal sectional view of a key and associated retainer showing said retainer partly applied to the key. i

Figure 4; is a transverse sectional View of a key showing a retainer, such as illustrated iii Figure 2, applied thereon.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section View on the line 5-5 of Figure 4:.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the retainer 1shown in Figure 4 applied to an associated Y @y Figure 7 is yan elevational view of a slightly'modied form of retainer embodying our invention. *i

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a key showing a retainer, as illustrated in Figure 7 in full lines immediately upon application over the end of said key and in dot and dash lines after compression or contraction thereof to engage said key. y Y f Although our invention is adapted for use with draft keys or the like, generally, and for other purposes, and may be used with various kinds of draft rigging, vwe have for purposes of illustration shown in Figure l the invention employed with draft rigging of the F arlow two-key type. In said ligure, a

fragmentary portion of arcar underframe vis illustrated, draft or center sills 1 being shown with cheek plates 2 applied on the outersides ofthe webs 3 thereof in accordance with usual practice. Said y Vcheek plates 2 may ybe connected to the sills by rivets or the like 4V and are preferably formed with flange portions 5 defining slots 6 and 7 therethrough, registering with correspondingly slotted portions in the webs 3 of the sills 1. Through the slots 6 and 7 extend draft keys 8 and 9, respectively, and said keys serve for connecting and supporting an associated coupler 10, horizontal yoke 11 and front follower 12. Cooperating with the front follower 12 and embrad between the arms of the yoke 11, any desired form of cushioning mechanism 31 is illustrated diagrammatically by dot and keys and 9 `may each'comprise, if desired, a inted or tapered end portion 14 and a headpnot shown) on the opposite end thereof. Alternatively, said keys or one of them may be pointed or tapered at each end, if desired. The pointed or headless end or e'nds V14 of the key 8 or 9, or both, is formed with an aperture or pocket 15 preferably positioned at the usual distance from the end of the key for the application of a key retainer.

-, A preferred embodiment of our improved 4form of key retainer comprises a member 16 preferably formed as an elongated or flattened loop adapted to fit over, or encircle if c'losed, the end of an associated key, as illustrated particularly in Figure 4. Said looped member 16 ma conveniently be formed by `castirlgalthoug we do not wish to be limited to such construction. It is desirably formed angular or ribbed along the edges of the upper and lower portions thereof although this construction is not essential.

The upper or lower portions or both of said portions of the retainer 16 are formed with referably integral bosses or lugs 17 este ing inwardly or upwardly and downwardly, respectively, the inner ends of said bosses or lugs, in the embodiment illustrated inFik s 1 to 6, inclusive, being preferably bevel ed or inclined as indicated at 18 to correspond with the tapering of the associated end ofthe key 8 or 9. The upper and lower portions of the retainer 16 may be normally so disposed that, in order to apply the retaning member to the key, it will be forced overjthe end thereof 'until the loop springs apart and permits the lugs 17 to snap into piace, as illustrated in Figure 5, when the retained' reaches this position. Alternatively, the retainer may be normally formed with the upper and lower portions disposed a somewhat greater distance apart so that, after application, it .is desirable to apply force or pressure to contract or draw the upper and lower portions of the retainer toward one another and cause the lugs 17 thereof to more eectively engage in the aperture 15 in the associated key. In any event, as will Abe apparent, the resiliency of the loop premi,vents undesired removal or loss of the retainer and so, likewise, of the key after assembly of the retainer and key, as illustrated.

Although we have shown the aperture or pocket 15 as extending entirely throu h the key, it is obvious that it need not be ormed in this manner but may comprise merely a pocket for the lug or for each lug 17 as illustrated in Fi ure 8. The ends of the retainer 16 are sown as tapering although this is not essential. Such tapering, however, is desirable for increasing the resiliency of the device at the ends thereof and facilitating application and removal thereof. By tapering the ends, the wear on the retainer is substantially restricted to the central portion as is desirable. Although each lug is shown with .an aperture 19 cored or otherwise formed therethrough, such a construction is not-essential 'but desirable for keeping down the weight of the device.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the upper and lower portions of the retainer 1'6EL may be similarly formed but more widely spaced than those of the first embodiment, although the inner ends of the lugs 17a need not be bevelled or sloped because the retainer is normally so wide that the distance between the inner ends of said lugs corresponds with the thickness of the associated key y'9. After application to the key, the retainer 16, shown in full lines in Figure 8, may be contracted or compressed, or the upper and lower portions forced, together, to the position shown in the dot and dash lines where the lugs 17a thereof engage l in the corresponding apertures or pockets 20 and 21 on the upper and lower sides, respectively, of the key v9. Although a plurality of pockets 20 'and 2l are illustrated in this embodiment, it is obvious that instead an aperture corresponding to the aperture 15 of the first embodiment may be employed eX- tending between the upper and lower surfaces of said key. Except as specifically described in connection with the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, .the construction thereof may correspond with that of the first embodiment.

When the retainer 16 or 16a is assembled with the key 8 or 9, a limited amount of an- Y gling therebetween is permitted so that, upon angling of the key, the retainer will tend to remain Vparallel with the associated cheek plate and present a relatively large wearing area thereto, thereby minimizing wear between the parts. It will be apparent that the retainer is easily applied and removed and, on account of being formed as a unitary or integral device, there are no parts to lose and, on account of its relatively simple configuration, itfmay be readily cast and, therefore, manufactured at relatively small cost.

Having now described our invention. we claim:

l. A retainer adapted for use with draft keys comprising an integral closed resilient loop relatively wide at its central portion and tapered toward the ends thereof, said loop conforming approximately in inner dimensions with the end portion of a draft key, provided with a lug disposed intermediate the ends thereof, adapted to engage in a corresponding pocket in said key, and adapted to be forced over the end portion thereof and ield in place by its own resiliency.

2. A retainer adapted for use with draft keys comprising an elongated resilient closed loop adapted to encircle an end portion of a key and formed with a lug intermediate the ends thereof adapted to engage and be resiliently held in a pocket near the end portion of the key for holding said retainer in place.

3. A retainer adapted for use with draft keys comprising auntary member formed as an elongated loop adapted to lit an end portion of an associated key and formed with straight upper and lower portions each having outstanding ribs along the edges thereof and a curved end portion, said straight portions each having an inwardly extending lug rigid therewith and adapted to fit in a corresponding aperture near the end portion of said key.

a. In railway draft rigging, a draft key with an apertured end portion and a retainer comprising an elongated spring loop fitting around said end portion and having an inner lug disposed intermediate the ends of said retainer and fitting the aperture in said end portion, said loop being applied to the key by springing it over the end thereof until the lug snaps into place in the aperture of the snaps into place in a corresponding aperture therein.

6. A device adapted for retaining an associated draft key in place comprising a continuous elongated spring loop having a rigid lug fitting an aperture near the end of a key, the inner end surface of Said lug being beveled to facilitate application of the retainer. Y

y 7. A retainer comprising an elongated closed spring loop member formed with axially aligned rigid lugs adapted to fit in an aperture near an end of a railway draft key and adapted for application over the end portion of such a key with subsequent contraction thereof until the lugs engage in said aperture to hold the retainer in place.

8. ln railway draft rigging, in combination, a draft key and a retainer thereon comprising' an elongated integral closed resilient loop with rigid lugs fitting an apertured pornatures.

HOWARD T. CASEY. CHARLES l?. rNOSER. 

